Residents may have to wait just a little bit longer before they can use the new ambulatory surgery treatment center, being built by Massac Memorial Hospital and the Orthopedic Institute of Paducah.

Originally targeted for a November opening, the MMH board has had to push back the date to spring 2015.

“The construction plans have been forwarded to the State of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and until they approve them, we can’t move forward,” explained Robbin McDaniel, MMH spokesperson. “There is no set timeframe for IDPH’s approval, but we anticipate it this month. “

According to McDaniel, the board’s original target date was spring of 2015 but that date was bumped up, hoping to meet an end of 2014 target.

“Now we are back to looking at that spring 2015 time frame,” added McDaniel.

The center is being built at 1841 E. Fifth St., which once was the location of El Capitan Drive-in Theater, near Interstate 24. The 12,000 square foot facility will house three surgical suites and is expected to cost $5.8 million.

The center will offer only outpatient orthopedic and podiatry surgical options and will employ 20 to 25 people.